Press Release

Annual Report to the Nation Finds Cancer Incidence and
Death Rates on the Decline: Survival Rates Show Significant Improvement

The nation’s leading cancer organizations report that Americans’ risk of
getting and dying from cancer continues to decline and survival rates for
many cancers continue to improve. The “Annual Report to the Nation on the
Status of Cancer, 1975-2001*” finds overall observed cancer
incidence rates dropped 0.5 percent per year from 1991 to 2001, while death
rates from all cancers combined dropped 1.1 percent per year from 1993 to
2001. According to the report’s authors, the new data reflect progress in
prevention, early detection, and treatment; however, not all segments of the
U.S. population have benefited equally from the advances.

First issued in 1998, the “Annual Report to the Nation” is a
collaboration among the American Cancer Society (ACS), the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Cancer Institute (NCI),
and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR). It
provides updated information on cancer rates and trends in the United
States.

“This new report clearly shows we’ve made considerable gains in reducing
the burden of cancer in the United States,” said John R. Seffrin, Ph.D.,
chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. “The first ever drop
in lung cancer incidence rates in women is remarkable proof that we are
making a difference in the number one cancer killer, and is powerful
evidence that our successful efforts must continue.”

The percentage of patients who have survived more than five years after
being diagnosed with cancer has increased over the past two decades.
According to NCI Director Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., “these survival
statistics are a reason for optimism, as they show us that we are on the
right track to reaching the NCI Challenge Goal to eliminate the suffering
and death due to cancer. We are committed to even greater advances in
survivorship research at NCI. We are directing and conducting research on
long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors, healthy behaviors for all
survivors, and unique issues faced by cancer survivors from underserved
populations.”

Death rates from all cancers combined have been decreasing since the
early 1990s. Death rates decreased for 11 of the top 15 cancers in men, and
eight of the top 15 cancers in women. Lung cancer deaths rates among women
leveled off for the first time between 1995 and 2001, after continuously
increasing for many decades.

Among men, cancer incidence rates have recently declined for seven of the
top 15 cancer sites: lung, colon, oral cavity, leukemia, stomach, pancreas,
and larynx. Incidence rates increased only for melanoma and cancers of the
prostate, kidney, and esophagus. When a process known as delay adjustment is
taken into account, some of these trends change (please refer to the Report
to the Nation Q&A**, question #14, for an explanation of
delay adjustment).

For the first time, lung cancer incidence rates among women are on the
decline. Incidence rates decreased for five additional cancers out of the
top 15 in women (colon, cervix, pancreas, ovary, and oral cavity). Only
breast, thyroid, bladder, and kidney cancer and melanoma rates are rising
among women.

This year’s report highlights trends in cancer survival by comparing
five-year survival rates of cancer patients diagnosed in two time periods:
1975-1979 and 1995-2000. Between those time periods, survival substantially
improved for most of the top 15 cancers in both men and women, and the top
ten sites in children.

For men, large gains in cancer survival rates (more than 10 percent) were
seen in cancers of the prostate, colon and kidney, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma,
melanoma, and leukemia. Modest gains (5 percent to 10 percent) were found
for cancers of the bladder, stomach, liver, brain, and esophagus.

For women, large gains in cancer survival rates were seen for colon,
kidney, and breast cancers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Modest gains were found
for bladder, oral cavity, stomach, brain, esophageal, and ovarian cancers
and melanoma and leukemia.

Limited survival improvement was noted for the most fatal forms of cancer
in adults including cancers of the lung, pancreas, and liver, which are
characterized by late stage at diagnosis and relatively poor survival rates
even when these cancers are diagnosed at a localized stage. There was also
little or no gain in several cancers that already have high survival rates,
including larynx, thyroid, and uterine cancers.

Childhood cancers showed some of the largest improvements in cancer
survival during the past 20 years, with an absolute survival rate increase
of 20 percent in boys and 13 percent in girls. The current five-year
survival rate of over 75 percent confirms substantial progress made since
the early 1960s, when childhood cancers were nearly always fatal.

"Cancer is a devastating disease that impacts so many people. But the
good news is there is hope and these data show we are winning the battle as
people with cancer are living longer and more healthier lives than ever
before," said CDC Director Julie Gerberding, M.D. "But we can't become
complacent. We must renew our efforts to make sure people make healthy
choices to prevent cancer, that they are properly screened for cancer, and
that they receive the appropriate treatment when they have cancer."

The report identifies wide variations in survival associated with race
and ethnicity. In every racial and ethnic population, with the exception of
Asian/Pacific Islander (API) women, the risk of cancer death from all cancer
sites combined was higher than the risk of death for non-Hispanic white
patients. Black men were at higher risk of dying of 12 cancers compared to
white men, with the increased risk ranging from 9 percent (lung cancer) to a
high of 67 percent (oral cavity). Black women experienced higher risks of
death from 12 cancers, with the increase ranging from 7 percent (lung
cancer) to 82 percent (corpus uterus and melanoma). Additionally,
non-Hispanic white and API patients tended to have higher survival rates
than other racial and ethnic groups except for patients with brain cancer
and leukemia.

"Increased efforts by NAACCR and its partners will continue to expand
information for a broader spectrum of underserved populations, including not
only racial groups other than white and black, but also U.S. Latinos, rural
populations, and areas defined by socioeconomic indicators," said NAACCR
Director Holly L. Howe, Ph.D. "With this information, we will be able to
more accurately address the cancer burden and disparities in these
populations."

The authors of the report emphasize that reaching all segments of the
population with high-quality prevention, early detection, and treatment
services could reduce cancer incidence and mortality even further. In
addition, they point out that “leaders in the scientific community forecast
an era of unprecedented progress in cancer research.” For these research
advances to impact cancer incidence and death rates, it will be critical
that all partners with a stake in impacting cancer control help to expedite
the translation of these research discoveries to widespread and equitable
delivery of preventive and clinical services.

CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and
controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing
credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living
through strong partnerships with local, national, and international
organizations.